Chamoli Travel Guide

Bestowed with amazing natural beauty - Chamoli is an enchanting abode of the Gods, which was earlier called the Kedar-Khand. Chamoli town is the headquarters of the district of the same name and is said to be amongst the most blessed places, adorned with beautiful landscape and heart melting sights. Adding to its sanctity, Chamoli in its district embraces many important Hindu pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, Joshimath and the three of the Panch Prayags; Karnaprayag, Nandprayag, and Vishnuprayag, that come as points of interest for the devotees on their pilgrimage tour. When in Chamoli, expect to have a rendezvous with some of the exotic sights of the pristine valleys fringed by the gigantic snow-capped mountains and the vast expanse of flower-strewn meadows. Expect to also be stunned by the warm hospitality and rich culture this beautiful district in Uttarakhand reflects.

Sprawled in the Garhwal Himalayan region, Chamoli is the second largest district of Uttarakhand that is bedecked on the banks of the River Alaknanda, and shares borders with other picturesque districts of the state like Pithoragarh and Bageshwar to its east, Almora to its south, Rudraprayag to its west, and Uttarkashi to its south-west. The district is also bounded by the Tibet region in its north and is evidently an alluring tourist destination that along with religious places has a plethora of sightseeing and trekking options.

In the past, the serenity of Chamoli has also inspired many poets like Kalidas to show their creative flair by writing some of the exceptional poetries. And though, due to an immense number of footfalls each year, the place seems to have commercialized a bit, it still has parts intact with pristine beauty like that of Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, where the experience of trekking expeditions is one of its kind. Chamoli also comprises of India's last inhabited village on Indo-Tibet Border called Mana, which has now become a popular place to visit. So, whether you have plans for an adventure tour or one with your family or maybe the kind where you would like to spend some time alone in solitude and in the divine presence of god, Chamoli, and its attractions are undoubtedly the companions you are looking for.

Our Chamoli travel guide is stuffed with details on every must visit destination in the district, along with options of various rejuvenating things to do, like exploring its rich biodiversity that attracts many naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts. The holiday guide also mentions exhilarating options for the adventure lovers who can indulge into several activities other than trekking, like white river rafting in the Alaknanda River and ski at the snow-covered hills of Auli in the Chamoli District.

Best Time to Visit Chamoli

To see the best of Chamoli, visit here during the cold season i.e winters or the arrival of the summer season, extending from October until March. It is the time when the place has got the best to offer to its tourists for an ultimate holiday experience. The Hindu pilgrims, however, can be seen here in a large number during the Chardham Yatra that begins in April end or starting of May and ends in October. Overall, the climate here stays quite pleasant throughout the year, which makes Chamoli round the year visiting destination.

  • Summer

    From the mid of March to May are the months of the summer season, when the temperature ranges between 11°C to 36°C. May is hot and humid of all. Being a cold state, the weather here in Chamoli is quite pleasant even during summers and considered good for trekking and watersports activities. Even the pilgrims also hoard here during these months.

  • Monsoon

    The monsoon in Chamoli extends from June until September, and heavy rainfall in the months July and August can be experienced in the district. The temperature ranges between 24°C and 36°C during the monsoon months. The district turns green and refreshing for the tourists to indulge in activities like trekking. There are also fair chances of landslides and roadblocks in monsoon, therefore, it is advisable to check the weather forecast before planning a trip.

  • Winter

    The months between October and the mid of March mark the winter season in Chamoli, which is considered to be the best season for tourism. The temperature lies between -1°C to 26°C. The place seems blissful during this time when covered under a thick blanket of snow. Everything except for water sports activities is open for recreation.

Popular Tourists Attaractions and Things to Do in & around Chamoli

Chamoli is a beautiful heaven for the nature lovers and an adventurer's paradise. The district is crammed with temples, housing one of the most religiously significant temple of Hindus i.e Badrinath temple and the three of the total five confluences i.e Nanda Prayag, Karna Prayag and Vishnu Prayag also make Chamoli spiritually rejuvenating to the pilgrims.

  • Badrinath

    It is a popular pilgrim centre considered sacred in Hindu religion and a part of 'Char Dham' and 'Chhota Char Dham' circuit. The temple is situated at an elevation of 3133 m on the Garhwal hill track, alongside the Alaknanda River. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Badrinath Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams. It is open for visit, between the end of April and the beginning of November, altogether six months of each year... Read more

  • Nanda Prayag

    Nanda Prayag is one of the Panch Prayags (5 confluences) of Alaknanda River which meets with Nandakini River here. It is located at an elevation of around 1,358 m and is situated on the way to Badrinath Temple on a 538 km long National Highway 58. The famous temple dedicated to Lord Krishna i.e 'Gopalji Temple' is also placed here.

  • Karna Prayag

    Another small town situated at the confluence of Alaknanda River with the Pindar River that carries immense religious significance in the Hindu religion. An ancient temple dedicated to Uma enhances the beauty of Karnaprayag. It is believed that, at this place, Karna from Mahabharata was gifted with the Kavach and Kundal by Lord Surya for his safety during the war... Read more

  • Vishnuprayag

    It is also situated at the confluence of Alaknanda River with the Dhauliganga River, but it derives its name from Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared before Sage Narad after his long indulgence into meditation at this sacred site. This religiously significant place is located at an elevation of 1,372 m, where lies an octagonal temple credited to Maharani Ahilya of Indore...

  • Hemkund Sahib

    Situated at a height of 4,633 m amidst the snow-capped mountains, Hemkund Sahib is a sacred pilgrimage site of the Sikhs. The place is devoted to Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru. Reaching here becomes impossible from October till April due to heavy snowfall. With the arrival of May, the pilgrims start the repair work of the damaged path, traditionally called as 'Kar Seva' which means selfless service... Read more

  • Gopeshwar

    It is the largest town in the Chamoli District and also its administrative headquarters, which is famous for its picturesque beauty and the panoramic views of the mountains. The major attractions being the ancient Gopeshwar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and which is very popular for its architectural proficiency. And then there is Vaitrani Kund which can also be visited if the time allows.

  • Govindghat

    It is a town situated at an altitude of 1,800 m on the way to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, a high-altitude Gurudwara. There exists the confluence of Alaknanda River and Lakshman Ganga River, which carries immense religious significance.

  • Valley of Flowers

    The two of the famous National Parks of Chamoli District, flourished with the varieties of flora and fauna in the lap of elevated hills, are a must visit spots for the wildlife lovers as well as the trekkers... Read more

  • Auli

    Located at a height of 2,500 m, is visited by tourists for the world-class skiing experience and also indulging in various other winter sports. Blessed with scenic beauty, this place is a major attraction of the Chamoli District... Read more

  • Jyotirmath / Joshimath

    Located at an altitude of 1,875 m, it is a holy site that houses one of the four cardinal pithas established by Adi Shankara. This place is also considered as the halting point for trekkers, out for the mountain climbing expedition to the scenic trails and pilgrim centres like Badrinath... Read more

  • Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra

    Considered as a festival in Uttarakhand, Nanda Devi Raj Jat is three weeks long Yatra participated by many pilgrims. The Yatra starts from Nauti Village to Roopkund with a four-horned sheep. This religious ceremony is dedicated to Goddess Nanda Devi and is organized once in every 12 years... Read more

Where to Stay in Chamoli?

Due to growing tourism, the accommodation facility is immense in Chamoli district, ranging from budget hotels, lodges and dharamshalas to several luxurious hotels and resorts. Out of all the places, tourists mostly prefer to choose Auli, Gopeshwar or Badrinath to stay when in Chamoli with Auli offering some nice luxury resorts for a pleasant holiday experience. People visiting Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib choose Ghangaria, Govindghat, and Joshimath for their stay, and the accommodation here can be found in varied ranges. Camping facility is also available in Ghangaria from where official treks to Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers begin. Apart from this, Chamoli town has decent accommodation facility, a good amount of hotels can be found in the budget range here.

How to Reach Chamoli

Chamoli district stands 296 km away from Delhi and around 147 km from Dehradun. Though it has got no airport or railway station still, it has great road connectivity with the major cities that further connect it to the outside world. The local public transport like bus service is readily available to commute. Taxis are also available to tour around the town for better comfort and time utilization.

  • By Air

    The Jolly Grant airport of Dehradun is the nearest airport for Chamoli, which is around 132 km away. The smooth public transport and taxi facilities are available to reach Chamoli from here.

  • By Rail

    The nearest railway station for Chamoli is located at Rishikesh, which is around 124 km away. But the feasible option that the tourists can opt for is the Haridwar railway station, which is about 202 km away. Once you have reached to your desired station, hop on a bus or a taxi to finally reach Chamoli.

  • By Road

    The frequency and connectivity of the regular state-owned buses as well as private buses are good to reach Chamoli via NH58. Nearest bus stands for Chamoli is at Pauri, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi or Gopeshwar, from where the public transport and taxis are easily available for your onward journey.

Uttarakhand Travel Information at a Glance